Science Major Skills List

Science Major Skills List Environmental Studies/Science Major Skills List If you’ve majored in environmental studies or science, your interests may dwell in the realm of ecological conservation, sustainability and more. However, it takes more than an interest in key areas to make you attractive to potential employers.   It’s quite a diverse field with many possibilities for employment, from water quality management and nature conservation to indirectly related jobs like landscape architecture and toxicology. Whichever way your degree takes you, you should possess several of the most important traits listed below to be a quality prospect for employers in search of candidates. How to Use Skills Lists You can use the below skills as you search for jobs. Apply the terms in your resume, in the description of your work history, as well as in your cover letter. Mention a few of the skills on this list, and give examples of how you’ve demonstrated these traits in prior work. You can also use these words in your interview. Hang onto the  top skills listed here, and be prepared with examples of how youve exemplified each. Each job will require different skills and experiences, so make sure you read the job description carefully and focus on the skills listed by the employer. Here is a look a the five most important skills employers look for in environmental majors. Gathering Data Depending on the role you end up with, possibilities for the types of data you gather, and in what sorts of environments you gather them, could differ greatly. Wherever you end up, you’ll be gathering data to find answers to questions, to test the hypothesis, and to evaluate outcomes. Some general skills around data collecting include perseverance, focus, critical thinking, deductive reasoning, logic, and of course, patience. You should be comfortable with various data-gathering methodologies, like the observational method, for example, or a more experimental analysis approach. Beyond gathering data, a good candidate will be able to analyze and communicate complex data facts with their colleagues. So storytelling and the ability to organize your thoughts will be important skills to develop as well. Analysis Skills You should be able to research, problem solve and integrate the principles of chemistry and physics into your environmental analysis. Analyzing the data you gather means being able to discover patterns and correlations. Logical thinking plays into skill with analysis, as logic will help you pull apart a problem, and begin to apply solutions. A good analyst will understand how systems work on macro and micro levels. They’ll be able to identify and begin to solve a host of problems. As an environmental science major, you should be able to not only understand problems and their solutions, but you should also be able to explain problems that are complex as well as simple. One of the more important but underrated skills an environmental science major can have is to be able to organize what they perceive and know in order to share their analysis with others. Conducting Research Employers will seek candidates who are able to conduct research. In order to conduct your research, you’ll need to engage the prior two skills we listed. First, you’ll need to get clear on your strategy and coordinate with others to make sure there are the funds and freedom to do the work you need to do. These tasks require interpersonal skills, communication, and follow through. Once the stage is set, you can begin to experiment, collect data, analyze the results, and record the data. You’ll need to be comfortable with things like formulating hypotheses and coming to various conclusions when you’re able to. Conducting research requires skills like managing stress, organizational oversight, teamwork, time management, deductive reasoning, and more. Organizational Skills To manage projects and phases of projects, employers will seek environmental scientists with proven organizational skills. As an employee, you may need to create research proposal structures, you may be tasked with managing delicate samples, or you may even be placed into a supervisory capacity, which will require you to manage entire projects or groups of people. In environmental science, employers will seek candidates who can organize their thoughts, their ideas, their work, and sometimes, other people. Working Independently While social and communication skills are important for roles related to environmental science, employees might sometimes find themselves working solo. The ability to work independently will be important for just about any employer. It means they’ll be able to dole out assignments or give you direction, but they won’t have to hold your hand through all stages of the process. Employers will look for independent thinkers who can stay focused and motivated without constant oversight. Environmental science can be a lucrative and rewarding career. It can give you the opportunity to devote your life’s work to a cause you may be genuinely passionate about, which is always a plus. Environmental Studies / Science Major Skills AccuracyAnalyzing DataAnalyzing Environmental ProblemsAnalyzing Public Policy Issues Related to the EnvironmentApplying Concepts in Geology to Environmental AssessmentsApplying Dyes and Indicators to CellsApplying Ethical Principles to Environmental AnalysesApplying Knowledge of BiologyAssessing the Impact of Social Institutions on the EnvironmentAttention to DetailCalculus  Collaborating  Collecting Soil SamplesComposing Lab ReportsComprehending Complex Scientific Reading MaterialConducting Quantitative Research Constructing Environmental Impact StatementsCreating Atmospheric ModelsCreating Charts and Graphs to Represent FindingsCritical ThinkingDeductive ReasoningDelivering Constructive CriticismDesigning Research Models to Test Hypotheses Regarding Environmental IssuesEvaluating the Validity of Environmental ResearchFlexibilityGathering DataIdentifying Environmental ProblemsIncorporating Concepts of Physics into Environmental AnalysisIntegrating Principles of Chemistry into Environmental AnalysisLeading Group Discussions Manual DexterityMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft WordMultitasking  Note TakingObservationalOrganizationalPowerPointPredicting OutcomesPresentation  PrioritizingProblem SolvingProject ManagementReceiving Constructive FeedbackRecording Field ObservationsResilienceSASSPSSStatistics  Stress Management  TeamworkTesting Ground WaterTest TakingTime ManagementUsing Electron MicroscopesUtilizing SpectrometersUtilizing Water Testing EquipmentVerbal CommunicationWorking IndependentlyWriting Policy EssaysWriting Scientific Research Papers